I'm not surprised at your GotY choice, Cary. I'm still slowly working through it myself. I'll finish it eventually! I'm glad to see Ys IX get some recongnition though. I've had Ys VIII loaded on my Switch for at least a year now. Maybe 2022 will be the year I get to it.
If you wanna start a petition for Kirby Picross, I'll gladly sign it! 
Yes, I expected you to give the Game of the Year nod to Great Ace Attorney but Dread is very deserving. Samus Returns was fine but nothing special and I expected something similar with Dread. I cannot believe how much of a better game it is over its predecessor!
Ooh, that's exciting! Original, Lite, or OLED?
My gosh! Have you actually watched all these??
The problem with the plot of Spirits Within, in my opinion, is a failure to understand the medium. The plot was structured like a video game. If this had been the plot of FFVIII, no one would have batted an eye. But it just did not work as a movie.
I spent a solid hour fighting that guy again and again before beating him. So hard! But then I went back the next day to show the fight to my kids (my two oldest had started playing Dread but it was too difficult for them) and I beat it that time on my first try. It really was just a case of learning the patterns.
On the one hand I can't believe you don't have a Switch. On the other I applaud you for knowing your limits.
I did hear about that nomination! Yeah, I doubt it will win but the recognition is good. I haven't heard any sales data for Dread yet but considering the Switch's track record so far, I assume Dread will become the best selling Metroid game without too much trouble.
I commend you on pulling the trigger and letting stuff go. I have a hard time imagining myself being able to do that. Hope you get some good stuff!
Well dang, it sounds like you're ahead of me on all this stuff. Next you'll be telling me you already played Doki Doki Literature Club 
Stage Select
While the redead in Ocarina of Time always scared me—the way that scream would freeze your character was genius—a much more terrifying creature from that game is the Great Fairy. The NPCs in that game were already unsettling but that nearly naked monstrosity coming up out of the fountain was much worse. Her...laugh? That was supposed to be a laugh, right? It was bone-chilling and didn't she always talk about kissing Link? I could easily look up a video to refresh my memory but, really, I'd like to sleep tonight.
Cage Match
Oh man, this choice is painful. I love both of these games. I think I'll have to go with Dead Space 2. RE4 is wonderful but overstays its welcome by the end whereas Dead Space 2 is a tighter experience. Plus Isaac is just plain tougher than Leon. Does Leon have to do anything as remotely painful as jamming a giant needle in his own eye? I think not. Also, Isaac takes out his foes by dismembering them and Leon has a bad habit of getting decapitated, so that's probably how this cage match would end.
